Cabinet pants press



Dec. 24, 1963 Filed June 27, 1960 L. K. HITZ CABINET PANTS PRESS 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 WN W INVENTOR.

A TTU/Q/VEY Dec. 24, 1963 K. HITZ CABINET PANTS PRESS 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 27, 1960 INVENTOR.

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Dec. 24, 1963 L. K'. HITZ' CABINET PAN-TS PRESS 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed June 27, 1960 INVENTOR. Zu/A/ K H/rz BY 6!? 3m Dec. 24, 1963 L. K. HITZ 3,115,235

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ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,115,285 CABINET PANTS PRESS Luin K. Hitz, Salt Lake City, Utah, assignor, by mesne assignments, to McGraw-Edison Company, Elgin, Ill, a corporation of Delaware Filed June 27, 1960, Ser. No. 38,932 22 Claims. (Cl. 223-73) This invention relates to a machine for pressing pants or trousers, the term pants being used in this specification and in the claims to define all types of trousers, both long and shout, and other bifurcated garments that have legs or sleeves.

An object of the present invention is to provide a cabinet-type of pressing machine that, in one operation, completely presses a pair of pants, i.e., irons, dries and finishes the same in one lay. Accordingly, the invention contemplates rapid and elficient ironing or pressing of a pair of pants so that unsightly overlapping edges, ordinarily left on the pants by prior machines that press on a piece-meal basis, are obviated.

Another object of the invention is to provide a single compact machine that simultaneously presses the legs and the rise or topping portion of a pair of pants, thereby obviating the use of two or more space-talking prior machines that press on a multiple-lay basis of operation. A further object of the invention is to provide a machine of the character referred to that dries and presses the rise of pants over a range of waist sizes. The material adjacent to the fly is first locked in pressing position, permitting the legs to be stretched and the seams lined up as the expanders adjust to the size and cut of the entire pair of pants, thereby insuring pressing that is free of unwanted folds and wrinkles.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a pressing machine for bifurcated garments, such as pants, and to provide the same with means for forming the usual type of front and/ or front and back longitudinal creases in the legs thereof.

A yet further object of the invention is to provide, in a machine of the character referred to, a unitary pantsmounting device embodying both a rise-pressing buck and a pants leg-pressing buck, thereby enabling in a single lay or pants-mounting operation, the proper positioning of the entire garment for complete pressing in one operation.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a pants-pressing machine as above, that moves pressing heads or platens simultaneously into pressing engagement with both the inside and outside of both pants legs (including the top portions of the pants), the means for so moving the platens being flexible as to the degree of movement thereof so as to apply uniform pressure to both the insides of the legs and the complete outside areas of the legs and top.

The invention also has for an object to provide an inflatable air bag with limited porosity completely covering the buck form, said bag being expanded with heated air before the pressing heads close on it, thereby permitting the pants and air bag to be lifted from the leg buck or form edges so that when the pressing heads close, a sharp crease is produced in that lifited portion without the inclusion of any metal form or other means that would prevent such creasing action.

The invention also has for its object to provide such means that are positive in operation, convenient in use, easily installed in a working position and easily disconnected therefrom, economical of manufiacture, relatively simple, and of general superiority and serviceability.

The finishing or pressing of pants, as contemplated herein, ordinarily entails the making of six difierent lays on one or more machines for ironing different portions 3,115,285 Patented Dec. 24, 1963 2 of the pants. Such prior pants pressing resulted in the sides of the legs being flatly creased and, therefore, difficult to separate when donning. It will be evident that a pressing operation carried out by such prior methods is not only time-consuming and costly, but gives poor results especially because of pants leg sides that are stuck together. The present pantspressing machine replaces such prior machines as a single, space-saving unit which, because the operation of pressing thereon is carried by a single lay, is much more efiicient as to pressing, drying, steamand air-finishing, etc. Therefore, the machine of this invention has great utility.

The invention also comprises novel details of construction and novel combinations and arrangements of parts, which will more fully appear in the course of the following description. However, the drawings merely show and the following description merely describes, one embodiment of the present invention, which is given by way of illustration or example only.

In the drawings, like reference characters designate similar parts in the several views.

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view, in pants-pressing position, of a cabinet pants press according to the present invention, a portion of the press being broken away.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged and broken longitudinal sectional view of said press and shown in pressing position.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view, as taken on the plane of the line 33 of FIG. 2, with the parts immediately before pressing of pants.

FIG. 4 is a similar View with the parts in pressing position.

FIG. 5 is a bnoken longitudinal sectional View, similar to FIG. 2, taken along the medial center line of the press, said line being shown at 55 of FIG. 7.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary side view of carriage-locking means used in the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view as taken on line 7-7 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 is a further enlarged and broken cross-sectional view of one of the lower portions of two pants leg pressing means used in the present machine, the parts being shown in normal separated position as in FIG. 3.

FIG. 8a is a broken sectional view of the pressing means, showing both the upper and lower portions thereof, the par-ts being shown immediately prior to full pressing position.

FIG. 9 is a similar view with the parts in pressing position.

FIG. 10 is a plan sectional view showing the carriage means of the present press.

FIG. 11 is a partly broken vertical sectional view of the means shown in FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a reduced scale longitudinal sectional view showing means to form both front and back creases in the pants legs that are being dried and pressed by the present machine.

FIG. 13 is an enlarged elevational view of the lower left hand portion of FIG. 1 and showing a front end crease detector for the back of the pants leg.

FIG. 14 is a vertical sectional view as taken on the line 14-14 of FIG. 13.

The cabinet pants press that is illustrated comprises, generally, a frame 15; a set of four flat pressing platens 16 arranged in pairs and disposed within the interior of said frame; means 17 to hold said platens retracted to non-pressing position, means 18 to move said platens to pressing position; a pants-mounting buck unit '19; a carriage 24) that carries the unit 19; means 21 to control the position of the carriage to control the position of said buck unit between dressing position, as in FIG. 1, and pressing position between the pairs of pressing platens 16; press head means 22 for cooperating with the unit 19 for clamping and pressing the fly portions of the rise of trousers mounted on the unit 19, said means being carried by the carriage 2%; means 23 to move the press head means 22 between retracted non-operating position and pressing and clamping position with relation to the buck means 19; means 24 to supply heated pressing and inflating steam or air to the buck unit 19; means 25 to expand the pants leg bucks of the unit 19 according to the size of the pants legs on said bucks; means- 26 to dry and press the crotch of pants mounted on the buck unit 19; means 27 to produce front crease in the pants legs; and means 2 8 to produce a back crease in said legs.

The frame 15 is shown as comprising a pair of longitudinal base members 30 that are spaced on either side of the mentioned medial center 5 of the machine and cabinet walls 31 carried by said members 3% and enclosing a top-open interior space 32 that is occupied by the pressing platens 16 and the buck unit 19, when the latter is in pressing position. A frame extension 33 is provided beyond the walls 31, the same being, in part, supported by carriage-guiding columns 34 from the base members 34). As shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, a divider rail 35 divides the top opening of the space 32, said rail extending from an end wall 36 that connects walls 31 to a stile 37 intermediate the ends of said walls 31. It will be realized that said rail 35 divides the left end of space 32 into equal narrower spaces which extend from the full width of space 32 at the right and forward of the frame extension 33. FIG. 2 shows that the stile 37 is connected to and is supported by a cross member 3% extending between the base members 30.

A complement of tubular rails 39 also extends between the base members 30 to reinforce the same, said rails constituting also supports for the pressing platens 16.

It will be evident from the foregoing that the walls 31 and 36 combine to form a cabinet, in the interior space 32 of which the pressing operation of the present machine is accomplished.

The pressing platens '16 are arranged in pairs, each pair comprising a longer, outer platen 4t) and a shorter, inner platen 41. The outer platens 40 are substantially coextensive in length to the length of the buck unit 19, while the inner platens 41 are only long enough to engage the inner side of a pants leg on said unit. Therefore, the latter platens extend from their ends adjacent cabinet wall 26 short of where the crotch of a pair of pants on unit 19 would be. Except that said platens are designed to be heated by steam or hot air introduced into the chest 42 of each (FIGS. 8 and 9), the same may be variously designed for the intended purpose. While preferably flat, as shown, the same may be contoured to suit buck design. In any case, as shown in FIG. 3, the platens of each pair are normally separated by the means 17 and, as shown in FIG. 4, the same are urged together to perform a pressing operation. The steam or air may be brought to the spaces 42 by suitable connections made to brackets 43 at the lower end corners of the platens.

As may be seen in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, each platen is provided with at least two support or mounting rollers 44 that rest upon the mentioned rails 39 and may track along said rails as the same are moved between non-pressing and pressing positions. Since the axles of the rollers 44 extend longitudinally of the cabinet, it will be clear that the platens of each pair are free to tilt toward and from each other as well as to be moved on rails together or apart. In the present case, each platen, on the side thereof opposite to the pressing face thereof, is provided with a backing 45 of insulating material. Two sheets of asbestos, and tin with a layer of wood, have been found advantageous in practice.

The means 17 to hold the platens retracted or spaced apart, as shown in FIG. 3, is preferably applied to the cues thereof, as best shown in 'FIG. 2. The outer platens 46, at the top and bottom of each, are connected by chains or cables 46, trained around sprockets or pulleys 47, to expansion springs 48. The latter are anchored on eyes 49 mounted on reinforcing braces 50 on the inner sides of the cabinet walls 31. It will be seen that said springs 48' constitute resilient means that retract the platens 4%) toward the opposite cabinet walls 31.

T he inner platens 41, at the top of each, are connected by chains 51, trained over a double pulley 52, to a common expansion spring 53. Said p-ulley is carried by the divider rail 35 and the spring 53 is anchored to a bracket 54 that is part of a longitudinal wall 55 extending between end wall 36 and stile '37.

As can be seen from FIG. 3, the spaced-apart positions of the pairs of platens above described are the normal positions by reason of the pull of springs 48 and 53.

The platen-moving means 18 comprises a set of inflatable bags 56 disposed between the platens 40 and the respective cabinet Walls 31, and a similar, larger bag 57 between the platens 41. Said bags are advantageously made of relatively thick, yet pliable and stretchable, rubher or the like, and are adapted to be expanded from the relaxed position of FIG. 3 to the expanded or distended position of FIG. 4, wherein the same move the platens of each pair, against the bias of the means 17, to pressing position. The hose or pipe 58 shown connected to bag 57 is similar to such conduits provided also for the bags 56. Compressed air may be introduced into the bags through said pipes to expand the same.

The buck unit 19 comprises, generally, a mounting frame 52 (FIGS 5 and 7) that includes an upper troughlike buck 6d, a pair of similar oppositely formed bucks 61, the mentioned means 25 for expanding the bucks 61, a support 63 for the frame 59, the same including a conduit 64 for steam or heated air, and a single air-pervious closure 62 for the bucks 6d and 61.

The frame 59 is shown as comprising spaced side walls 65 symmetrically disposed on each side of the center line 55 of the machine, a transverse wall 66 connecting said walls 65, and a V-shaped trough 67 connecting the upper edges of said side walls 65 and constituting the base or support portion of the buck 6%. An interior space 67a is thus defined within the components of frame 59.

The buck further includes padding 68 that is disposed on the trough 67, the same constituting a compressible surface for the rise portions 6% of a pair of pants that, when connected, form the fiy of such pants. It will be clear, particularly from FIG. 7, that with the rise portion 76) of a pair of pants encompassing the frame 59, with the front of said pants up, said rise portions 69 will readily drape over the opposite sides of the buck 6, being trained inwardly and downwardly to lie upon the padding 68. The opposite or seat portion 71 of the pants will then span across the frame 59 below the lower edges of the frame walls 65.

The bucks 61 are flat assemblies that are secured at '72 to the walls and extend forwardly toward the end cabinet wall 36. The extensions constitute pants leg forms 73 that are best illustrated in FIGS. 2, 7, 8 and 9.

Each form 73 comprises a pair of flat plates 74 that are spaced by a separator plate 75 to define between them a slot 76. A leg extender 77 is disposed in said slot and is freely adapted to be moved between a retracted position within said slot, as in FIG. 2, and a partially or fully extended position downwardly, as allowed by the pants legs 78 draped on the forms. It will be evident that pants legs 78, loosely mounted on the leg forms 73, may be tautened by extension downwardly of extender 77.

Such extension may be accomplished by the expanding means 25 that is shown in FIGS. 2, 5 and 7. Said means comprises air motors 79 that are mounted on a cross rod 34 extending between frame plates 65, arms 81 movable on a pivot rod 82, arm-retracting springs 83, and actuating levers 84 that are connected by a cross rod 85, said latter rod having a slotted connection with the arms 81 and movable by said arms up and down. Clearance for the rod 85 is provided by slots 86 in the inner of the plates 74.

Said levers 84 are pivotally connected, at 87, to each respective leg form 73, the same residing in slots 76 to be coplanar with the expanders 77 to which they connect, as at 88.

In the above manner, the leg forms 73 may be extended to tauten pants legs draped thereon according to the size of said legs circumferentially.

The support 63 for the frame 59 comprises the conduit 64 that is horizontally disposed and is provided with an annular flange 89. By aflixing said conduit, as by suitable welds, to the troughs 67 and using a central partition 90 to tie said conduit to the wall 66 as well as to a bottom wall 91, the frame 59 is securely affixed to the conduit, as can be realized.

The foregoing provides a bifurcated structure that is adapted to receive thereon a pair of pants with the rise portion thereof around the frame 59 and the rearward ends of the bucks 61 and the leg portions 78 around the forms 73 of said bucks 61. The single, air-pervious closure 62. encompasses said bifurcated structure in much the same way as a pair of pants would drape thereover, except that the portion of said closure that encompasses the frame 59 is continuous, i.e., endless, and the leg portions are generously larger than the leg forms, as suggested in FIGS. 8 and 9. By clamping the open end 92 around the flange 89, as by means of a clamp 93, said flange constitutes an end closure wall for said closure 62. Consequently, heated air or steam directed through conduit support 63 into conduit 64, enters the interior of the closure 62; such air or steam may then pass outwardly through the interstices of the enclosure. A nylon fabric of thin weave and fine mesh may be advantageously used as the enclosure, the same, therefore, readily folding or gathering to allow the pants legs to tauten, as explained above.

The carriage 20 is shown in FIGS. 1, 5, and 11 and is mounted to track vertically on the columns 34. To this end, the carriage frame 94 is provided with tracking rollers 95. As can be seen, the bias of the carriage-controlling and -moving means 21 retains the carriage in its normal vertical disposition, therefore maintaining horizontal the mentioned support 63 for the buck unit 19, as explained. A front plate 96 is used for aflixing the conduit 64 to the carriage.

The carriage-positioning means 21 (FIGS. 1, 10 and 11) comprises a fluid-extensible motor 96 that is aflixed, at one end, to a tranverse bar 97 spanning between the base members 30, and having its opposite end connected to a rod 98. The latter rod carries sprocket wheels 99 on its opposite ends, and, inward of said wheels, connects with ear-like extensions 100 of coil springs 101. Said springs are also connected to bar 97 and are biased to normally contracted position that pulls the rod 98 to its low position. The motor 96 lifts said rod against the bias of the springs 101.

A chain 102 is trained around each sprocket wheel 99, one end of each said chain being connected by a bolt 103 to the top of frame extension 33. The opposite ends of chains 102, after leaving the sprocket wheels 99, are directed upwardly and trained around idler sprocket wheels 104, the chain ends, after passing around the latter wheels, being connected to brackets 105 on the rear portion of the carriage 20. It will be clear that the springs 101 at all times bias the rollers 95 of the carriage in a direction against the columns on which they track, due to the position of the brackets 105 on the carriage.

It will be understood that the motor 96 constitutes the means for effecting raising and lowering of the carriage and that the springs 101 impose a counterbalancing force that holds the carriage and the buck unit 19 carried thereby steady during movement of the latter between dressing and pressing positions.

The press head means 22 is best shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 5 and 7 and comprises a V-shaped platen member 106 that fits the trough-like form of the buck 60 and is adapted to press against the pants parts 69 to dry and press them as Well as to draw the same inwardly toward each other by reason of the sloping sides of both said buck and the head or platen 106. Such a drawing together of the pants parts 69 could not be had from use of a flat buck and platen at this point, the present construction insuring wrinkle-free pressing of the pants rise 70.

The press head means 22 further includes a bridge plate 107 across the upper edges of the platen 106, a pair of arms 108, on a pivot 108a on the carriage 20, a universal engagement at 109 between the arms 108 and the bridge plate 107, whereby the platen 106 is free to adapt its position to varying thickness of material of the pants parts 69 and to buttons or other obstructions, and resilient means 110 that controls such accommodating movement of platen 106.

It will be understood that the platen 106 is provided with means to heat the same. Such means is not shown since the same may variously comprise a steam chest, or steam or hot air conducting pipes having flexible connections to a source of such fluid. In any case, the platen 106 is heated so as to press the pants portions 69 in somewhat the same manner that the heated platens 40 and 41 effect a pressing operation on the pants legs '78.

The means 25 moves the platen 106 between a raised position, as in FIG. 1, and the pressing position of FIG. 5, for instance, and also applies a powerful force to provide the required pressing pressure between said platen and the buck 60.

Said means 23 comprises a relatively short fluid pressure motor that consists of a cylinder 111 that is pivotally mounted on a cross rod 112 between the walls of the carriage frame 94 and is provided with a stem 113 that connects to a cross pin 114 extending between the arms 108. Said pin 114 is quite close to the pivot 108a for said arms. Therefore, the cylinder may be quite short and yet afford sufficient retractive and projected movement of the stem to move the platen 106 between the mentioned raised and lowered pressing positions.

The pressing pressure on said platent 106 is produced by a pair of fluid pressure motors that consist of a cylinder 115 on each side of the carriage that is mounted on pivots 116 on the carriage sides. A stem 117 in each cylinder 115 is moved by pressure fluid between extended and retracted positions. Arms 118 on pivots 119 are connected at their ends to the stems 117 and it will be clear that said arms are swung between a low position (the dot-dash lines of FIG. 11) and a raised position (the full lines of FIG. 11 as the stems 117 are retracted and projected. Said arms 118 are of substantial length and are adapted to engage rearward extensions 120 of the platen-carrying arms 108. Since said extensions 120 are engaged with arms 118 adjacent their pivots 119, the force or power produced on extensions 120 by the arms 118 is substantially greater than the power at the connections 121 between the stems 117 and the arms 118. Because of the power advantage created by the above-described arrangement of arms and pivots, the motors 115 are enabled to produce a desired pressing force on the platen 60.

It will be understood that, from a raised position of the platen 60, the motor cylinder 111 first lowers the platen, bringing the arm extensions 120 into position over the arms 118. Then, the motor cylinder 115 is brought into play to move the arms 118 into power-producing engagement with the arm extensions 120. When pressing is completed, the motor 115 is exhausted through motor cylinder 111 allowing arm extension 120 to move to open or unloading position.

The means 24 comprises the conduit 64 that is the support on which the frame 59 is mounted and which is connected to the carriage 20 by means of the wall 96 thereof, a downwardly directed extension 121 from the portion of conduit 64 that resides within the carriage, and a supply fitting 122 that is carried by the press frame between the frame members 3% (FIG.

The fitting 122 is provided with a controlled flow of heated air from a source not shown. Any suitable compressor having a valve-controlled outlet may supply such air to the inlet 123. With such flow open and the carriage 20 in its low position of FIG. 5, the outlet 124 of fitting 122 is engaged by the lower end of extension 121 to supply heated air for inflation of the air-pervious closure 62. The flow is closed when the carriage is raised and the extension 1211 becomes separated from the fitting 122.

The foregoing describes means for drying and pressing the rise and legs of a pair of pants. The means 26 is provided for drying and pressing the crotch 125 of said pants, As best shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 7, a V-shaped pressing platen 126 is disposed below the frame 59 of the buck unit 19, the same, generally, being an upsidedown replica of the platen 1%. Said platen 1% is carried on a pivot 127 by the end of a lever 12% that is moved up and down by a compressed air motor 129. Said pivotal connection is at the approximate middle of the platen so that the same, when brought into contact with a pants crotch, may accommodate itself by pivotal movement as caused by the crotch.

Since the pants rise 79 is held taut by the platen 166, the platen 126 will enter the crotch and tauten the same from the side opposite to the platen 1%. The pivotal mounting of said platen 126 enables the latter to achieve crotch-pressing positions as permitted by different pairs of pants on the buck unit 19.

As can be seen from FIGS. 3 and 8, the air in the enclosure 62 inflates the same, as permitted by the pants legs 78, and the fabric of the enclosure will balloon outwardly away from the forms 73 and spaced from the padding 130 on both outer faces of said forms. As a consequence, when the pairs of platens 4t and 41 are brought together, they will flatten out the bulges of the pants legs, as can be seen in FIG. 8a. Then, as the platens continue to move together, the upper or front edges of the pants legs will be raised off the forms as the same continue to be narrowed from the rounded form thereof, as in FIG. 3. The means 27 is provided for forming creases in such narrowed edges of the pants legs.

The means 27 is shown as a flexible metal shoe 131 mounted on one of the pressing platens and provided with a sloping shoe face 132 that has a firmly resilient engagement with one side of the pants leg at where the crease is formed. Springs 133 create such an engagement. Because of the large surface engagement between the pants legs and the pressing platens, and also because of the friction created between said legs and the closure fabric against the padding 139, the pants legs retain their position while the folds 134 in the pants legs are being narrowed and raised off the forms. Finally, as the platens 4-0 and 41 are brought together, as in FIG. 9, over the forms 73, said folds are crowded into the acute angle formed between the resilient face 132 and the face of the opposite platen thereby forming a sharp crease 135 where the fold 134 had been.

If it is desired to provide a back crease in the plants legs, the means 28 is incorporated in the machine, as shown in FIG. 2 and in modified form in FIGS. 8, 8a, 9, 12, 13 and 14. In FIG. 2, said means comprises an elongated bar 136 (for each pants leg) that is mounted in a generally horizontal position on a pair of compressed air motors 137 (FIG. 2) and 13 8 (FIG. 5). Each bar is shown with an upper sharpened edge 13% and is provided with longitudinally spaced laterally directed stops 141). FIG. 2 shows the low non-creasing position of the bars 139 and the same are moved to creasing position by extension of both motors 137 and 138.

The raised or crease-forming positions of the bars 136 will vary according to the expanded width of the pants legs. The stops 146 engage the bights 141 in the pants legs when the bar is raised to creasing position. Thus, when the pairs of platens 4t and 41 close over the forms 73, the sharpened edge 1.39 of the bars 136 will provide the sloping creasing faces 142 to form the back creases at the bights 141. In this manner, regardless of the pants leg width, back creases, as well as front creases, may be formed in the pants on the form unit 1).

PEG. 12 shows a platen 41 and the shoe 131 with which the same is provided and, also, the front crease that is formed when a pair of platens 40 and 41 are brought together to cause the means 27 to form such a crease. MG. 12, as well as FIGS. 8, 8a, 9, 13 and 14, in considerable detail, show a modified form of back crease-forming means 23, which comprises a detector that is engaged by the expander 77 at the front or cuff end of the pants leg P, a detector 151 that is engaged by the expander adjacent to the crotch of the pants, and crease-pressing means 152, one on each of the pressing platens 4t and 41, positioned by the detectors to proper pressing position according to the width of the pants leg P.

As shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the detector 159 comprises a notched member 153 into which the expander tucks the back fold of the pants as the cloth enclosures are expanded. Said member 153 is carried by a bracket 154 on a stem 155. A spring 155 normally projects the member upwardly and yields to the push of the mentioned pants fold to allow the member 153 to move downwardly, accordingly, as pushed by the expander-distended pants.

Opposite pressing pads 157 are kept in register with the detectors so as to be in position to press a back crease 158 in the pants, as shown in FIGS. 8, 8a and 9. Such register is achieved by connecting the stem 155 to a bracket 159 and connecting said bracket, by means of links 16%, to spring-biased slides 161 which carry the pads 157. The dotted line 162 in PEG. 13 shows the line of crease and reveals how the detector member 153 and the pads 157 move up and down together according to the distended size of the pants leg.

The detector 151 simply comprises a notched detector member 163 that is directly connected to the springbiased slides 161 by means of links 164. The action is similar to the action described for detector 150. It will be realized that the two detectors for each pants leg operate independently to cause the slides 161 to shift not only according to variations in the extended width of the pants leg, but also according to the taper or lack of taper of the pants leg.

The pants-creasing means 152 are shown as oppositely bowed metal members 165 that are biased by springs 166 and flatten to a less curved condition as the two platens 4t) and 41 are brought together, first, as in FIG. 8a and then, in the final pressing condition of FIG. 9. In this case, the members pinch the fold that is trained around the edge of the expander 77 and pull the same away from said edge, as in FIG. 9, to press the tight back crease 158. Of course, the expander must not follow the fold but is locked to prevent the same expanding further as the platens close. In practice each of the two expander blades 77 becomes so locked when the carriage 2t and buck unit 19 reach the lower or pressing position.

FIGS. 1 and 6 show a lock means to hold the carriage 2th in its low position. Release thereof allows the springs 191 to return the carriage to raised position. A bracket 143, mounted on one of the frame members 30', carries a bellcrank lever 144. Said lever is normally held retracted by a spring 145 so that when the carriage 20 descends under power from the motor 96, a pin 146 moves past the lock arm 147 of said lever 144 and in position to be engaged by said arm when the compressed air motor 149 is operated to rock the bellcrank against the bias. of spring 145, from the position of FIG. 1 to that of FIG. 6. Release of said lock follows when the motor 143 is extended and spring 145 rocks the bellcrank in a direction to free projection or pin 1%. Return of the carriage to raised position follows.

The present machine, in the usual way, may be powered by a motor that, through the medium of a compressor, provides pressure air where the same is desired. Also, said motor or other comparable means may generate heat for pressing air or provide steam wherever needed. Such power means is not shown, since the same does not constitute a novel feature of the machine as disclosed.

Operation After a pair of pants has been mounted on the buck unit 19, the same is adjusted by the operator to straighten wrinkles and orient the same properly on the buck 67 and the leg forms 7 3. Then, being certain that the fly portions 69 are properly in place, the platen 106 is swung down to the position of FIGS. and 7, first by extending the motor 111 and, then, the motor 115, the latter providing desired pressing pressure.

As the motor 115 becomes fully extended, a port 149 therein is uncovered to direct the pressure air that operates said motor to the motors '79 which, through the means 25, operate the pants leg extenders. Said extenders or expanders can tauten the pants legs only as permitted by the circumferential size of the latter. At this time, the pants rise is firmly clamped by the buck 67.

Now, the air motor 96 is extended against the counterbalancing bias of the springs 101 and the carriage 20 moves down to bring the leg forms 73, with the pants legs thereon, between the respective pairs of pressing platens 40 and 41. Now that the means 24 is connected, the enclosure 62 is inflated to remove wrinkles in the pants.

The air bags 56 and 57 are inflated to cause the same to move the platens 4t and 41 into pressing engagement with the outer sides of rises and legs and the inner sides of said legs, as above explained. At the same time, the full capacity of pressing air is introduced into the enclosure 62 so that the pants are pressed both from without by the platens 106, 40 and 41, and from within by such Simultaneously with the closing of the platens 40 and 41, the crotch-pressing means 26 and the back creaseforming means 28 may be operated, thereby insuring smoothing out of the pants crotch and forming of the back leg creases.

In any suitable way, the closing movement of the platens 40 and 41 may be used to set into operation a timing mechanism that controls the duration of pressing time and which causes deflation of the bags 56 and 57 at the end of the pressing cycle. Of course, the pressing platens may be opened by manual actuation of a safety control. It will be realized that both types of controls may be providedone automatic and the other manualto provide for all contingencies during the pressing cycle. In any case, either the automatic or the manual control will, at the time the platens 40 and 41 are opened, restore all the components of the press to their original positions, i.e., the positions of FIG. 1, so that the pressed pants may be removed and replaced by a second pair of pants to be pressed.

While the foregoing specification illustrates and describes what I now contemplate to be the best mode of carrying out my invention, the construction is, of course, subject to modification Without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention. Therefore, -I do not desire to restrict the invention to the particular form of construction illustrated and described, but desire to cover all modifications that may fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

-1. A pants pressing machine comprising two pairs of opposed pressing platens in substantially parallel arrangement, each said pair comprising an inner shorter platen and an outer longer platen, a buck unit to hold a pair of pants with the legs thereof separated and aligned with and above said pairs of platens and to hold the rise portion of said pants above and between the outer longer platens of each pair, said unit including a V-shaped buck over which the portions of the pants rise that comprise the fly of the pants "are trained, a V-shaped pressing platen to engage the latter portions to clamp the rise portion in operative position on the buck unit, a common carriage tor the buck unit and the V-shaped pressing platen, and means to move the carriage to move the buck unit into position between the two pairs of platens and in pressing register therewith.

2. A pants pressing machine comprising two pairs of opposed pressing platens in substantially parallel arrangement, each said pair comprising an inner shorter platen and an outer longer platen, means normally separating said platens, means acting against the latter means to move the platens of each pair together in pressing relationship, a buck unit to hold a pair of pants with the legs thereof separated and aligned with and above said pairs of platens and to hold the rise portion of said pants above and between the outer longer platens of each pair, said unit including a V-shaped buck over which the portions of the pan-ts rise that comprise the fly of the pants are trained, a V-shaped pressing platen to engage the latter portions to clamp the riSe portion in operative position on the buck unit, a common carriage for the buck unit and the V-shaped pressing platen, and means to move the carriage to move the buck unit into position between the two pairs of platens and in pressing register therewith.

3. .A pants pressing machine according to claim 2 in which the buck unit is provided with fiat leg forms, a single air-pervious fabric enclosure over the buck unit and over said forms and on which a pair of pants to be pressed is positioned, means to direct compressed air into the interior of said enclosure to cause the same to inflate and, therefore, balloon out the legs of the pants to a size larger than the leg forms, said pants legs being flattened from their distended form by the respective pairs of pressing platens and thereby raised off one edge of each form, and means on one pressing platen of each pair cooperating with the other platen of each pair to crease said raised leg portions during pressing of the pants.

4. A pants pressing machine according to claim 3 in which is provided means to form creases in the pants legs opposite to the mentioned creases.

5. A pants pressing machine according to claim 2 in which is provided platen means engaged With the crotch and seat of pants on the buck unit, and means to move the latter platen means into pressing engagement with the crotch and seat subsequent to movement of the buck unit to pressing position.

6. A pants pressing machine comprising two pairs of opposed pressing platens in substantially parallel arrangement, each said pair comprising an inner shorter platen and an outer longer platen, a buck unit to hold a pair of pants with the legs thereof separated and aligned with and above said pairs of platens and to hold the rise portion of said pants above and between the outer longer platens of each pair, said unit including a V-shaped buck over which the portions of the pants rise that comprise the fly of the pants are trained, a V-shaped pressing platen to engage the latter portions to clamp the rise portion in operative position on the buck unit, a common carirage for the buck unit and the V-shaped pressing platen, means fixedly mounting the buck unit on the carriage, a hinged connection between the V-shaped platen and the carriage, means embodied in the cariage to move the V-shaped platen-into clamping engagement with the V-shaped buck and to apply pressing pressure between the V-shaped platen and buck, and means to move the carriage to move the buck unit into position between the two pairs of platens and in pressing register therewith.

7. In a pants pressing machine, a buck unit including a portion over which the rise portion of a pair of pants is adapted to be placed, said buck portion comprising a V-shaped buck having inwardly and downwardly sloping sides and on the sloping surfaces of which the portions of the pants rise that form the fly of the pants are disposed with said fly portions spaced apart and sloping inwardly and downwardly toward each other according to the angle of slope between the sides of the buck, and a V-shaped platen having outwardly and upwardly sloping sides and movable between a position spaced from the buck unit and a position with the sides thereof in pressing engagement with the mentioned rise portions of the pants to clamp the same to the buck unit.

8. In a pants pressing machine, a buck unit including a portion over which the rise portion of a pair of pants is adapted to be placed, said buck portion comprising a V-shaped buck on one side of the buck unit and having inwardly and downwardly sloping sides and on the sloping surfaces of which the portions of the pants rise that form the fly of the pants are disposed with said fly portions spaced apart and sloping inwardly and downwardly toward each other according to the angle of slope between the sides of the buck, a V-shaped platen having outwardly and upwardly sloping sides and movable between a position spaced from the buck unit and a position with the sides thereof in pressing engagement with the mentioned rise portions of the pants to clamp the same to the buck unit, a second and inverted V-shaped platen disposed in spaced relation to the opposite side of the buck unit and having outwardly and downwardly sloping sides, and means to move said second platen into pressing engagement with the crotch of pants on the buck unit and clamped by the V-shaped platen.

9. In a pants pressing machine, a buck unit comprising longitudinal transversely spaced side members and a V- shaped buck part extending between and connecting the longitudinal edges along one side of said side members, the buck part comprising downwardly and inwardly sloping walls, said unit having an interior space that is open between the longitudinal edges along the other side of said side members, a flexible enclosure around said side members, over said buck part walls and across the open space in the buck unit, a V-shaped pressing platen movable into pressing engagement with the fly portions of a pants rise engaged over said buck unit to press said fly portions against the walls of the V-shaped buck part, and a second V-shaped pressing platen, inverted with respect to the firstmentioned platen, and disposed and movable toward and partly into the mentioned opening in the buck unit to press against the portion of the pants rise spanning between the second-mentioned longitudinal edges of the spaced sides of the buck unit to press the latter portion of the pants rise while the fly portions are being held and pressed by the first-mentioned V-shaped platen.

10. In a pants pressing machine according to claim 9, said enclosure having air-pervious inflatable portions.

11. In a pants pressing machine, a buck unit comprising a portion to hold the rise of a pair of pants and two parallel bifurcations extending from said portion to hold the legs of such pair of pants, said buck portion having opposite sides to engage the sides of the rise of a pair of pants, oppositely and inwardly sloping walls extending from said opposite sides to form a trough to engage the fly portions of said rise, and a press head provided with walls that slope to suit the slope of the trough walls, and means to move said press head to press the fly portions of the rise against the sloping walls of said buck portion to draw said rise portions inwardly toward each other, thereby drawing the pants rise tautly around said buck portion.

12. In a pants pressing machine according to claim 11, the buck portion opposite to the trough therein being open between the opposite sides of said buck portion, the crotch of a pair of pants draped on the buck unit spanning between said sides of the rise portion of the buck and across the open part of said buck portion, a pressing and drying platen to engage said crotch, and means to move said platen into engagement with said crotch after the press head has drawn the pants rise tautly around said buck portion.

13. In a pants pressing machine according to claim 12, the pressing and drying platen having the shape of an inverted trough in opposed relation to the trough form of the rise-holding buck portion to further tauten the pants rise by forcing the pants crotch in a direction toward the fly portions of the pants rise.

14. In a pants pressing machine according to claim 13, means providing a pivotal mount for said pressing and drying platen on an axis transverse to the length of the buck unit to allow said platen freedom to angularly assume a crotch-pressing position according to pants size.

15. In a pants pressing machine, a pants leg form comprising a flat side-padded member having a generally straight longitudinal edge, a distender carried by said form, means to move the distender outwardly from the opposite edge of the form to tauten a pants leg disposed over the form, an air-pervious fabric enclosure loosely over the form and distender, means to inflate said enclosure to balloon out a pants leg on the form to outwardly how the sides thereof, a pair of pressing platens, one on each side of the form and movable toward each other to flatten the opposite sides of the ballooned pants leg that is engaged thereover and to raise the portion of the enclosure that is opposite to the distender and the portion of said leg away from said straight longitudinal edge, said raised enclosure portion forming a bight in the pants leg, and means on one platen to flatten said bight against the opposite platen to crease said bight longitudinally, said last-named means comprising a resiliently-mounted and elongated member provided with a sloping portion which engages one side of a pants leg on the form while the other side is in flatwise engagement with said opposite platen, the crease in the pants leg being formed where said sloping portion has its nearest approach to said opposite platen.

16. A pants pressing machine comprising two pairs of opposed pressing platens in substantially parallel arrangement, each said pair comprising an inner shorter platen and an outer longer platen, a buck unit to hold a pair of pants with the legs thereof separated and aligned with and above said pairs of platens and to hold the rise portion of said pants above and between the outer longer platens of each pair, said unit including a V-shaped buck over which the portions of the pants rise that comprise the fly of the pants are trained, a V-shaped pressing platen to engage the latter portions to clamp the rise portion in operative position on the buck unit, a common carriage for the buck unit and the V-shaped pressing platen, spring means normally holding the carriage raised with the buck unit carried thereby positioned above the two pairs of platens, and fluid-powered means, acting against the bias of the spring means, to lower the carriage and position the buck unit in pressing register with the two pairs of platens.

17. A pants pressing machine comprising two pairs of opposed pressing platens in substantially parallel arrangement, each said pair comprising an inner shorter platen and an outer longer platen, a buck unit to hold a pair of pants with the legs thereof separated and aligned with and above said pairs of platens and to hold the rise portion of said pants above and between the outer longer platens of each pair, said unit including a V-shaped buck over which the portions of the pants rise that comprise the fly of the pants are arranged, a V-shaped pressing platen -to engage the latter portions to clamp the rise portion in operative position on the buck unit, a common carriage for the buck unit and the V-shaped pressing platen, spring means normally holding the carriage naised with the buck unit carried thereby positioned above the two pairs of platens, fluid-powered means, acting against the bias of the spring means, to lower the carriage and position the buck unit in pressing register with the two 13 pairs of platens, and means to engage and lock the carriage in the pressing position of the buck unit.

18. A pants pressing machine according to claim 17 in which a source of compressed air is provided, the same being provided with an air outlet, an air-pervious enclosure over the buck unit, a conduit open to the interior of said enclosure and having an end within said carriage and aligned with and extending toward said air outlet, said conduit having an end that engages the mentioned air out-let only when the carriage and buck unit thereon are in pressing position.

19. In a pressing machine, a flat, padded and elongated buck, an air-pervious fabric enclosure loosely fitted around said buck and which, when inflated with air, balloons outwardly in spaced relation to the buck and into lining and distending engagement with a tubular garment portion drawn over said enclosure, a pair of opposed pressing platens between which the buck is disposed and movable toward the flat sides of the buck to press the distended garment portions and the lining portions of the enclosure into pressing engagement with said buck sides to form a fold in the lining and garment portion that is spaced away from one of the longitudinal edges of the buck, and means carried by one platen to press and crease said told against the other platen at the end of the movement of the platens toward each other, the latter means comprising a resilient member that has a firmly resilient engagement with one side of the tubular garment portion adjacent the fold therein and crowds the fold toward said other platen to sharply crease said told.

20. In a pressing machine, a flat, padded and elongated buck, an air-pervious fabric enclosure loosely fitted around said buck and which, when inflated with air, balloons outwardly in spaced relation to the buck and into lining and distending engagement with a tubular garment portion drawn over said enclosure, a pair of opposed pressing platens between which the buck is disposed and movable toward the flat sides of the buck to press the distended garment portions and the lining portions of the enclosure into pressing engagement with said buck sides to form a fold in the lining and garment portion that is spaced away from one of the longitudinal edges of the buck, and means carried by one platen to press and crease said fold against the other platen at the end of the movement of the platens toward each other, an expander carried by :said buck and movable into extended position beyond the opposite longitudinal edge of the buck to form a fold in the tubular garment portion and the fabric liner that is opposite the first-mentioned fold, and resilient means carried by both pressing platens to engage said fold to first flatten the same to move the fold away from the distender and then eitghtly crease said fold.

21. In a pants pressing machine, a pants leg-holding buck having a front edge and a back edge provided with an expander to extend the pants leg to full width thereof, means to move the buck, back edge first, to pressing position, two longitudinally spaced detectors engaged and moved by said back edge, opposed pressing pads between which said back edge is disposed when so moved, and means connecting the detectors and the pressing pads to move the latter to registered pressing position with said back edge according to the position of the detectors.

22. In a pants pressing machine according to claim r 21, a pair of spring-biased slides upon which the opposed pressing pads are carried, said detectors being connected by the connecting means to opposite ends of the slides.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,251,091 Wiegman July 29, 1941 2,478,531 Harris et al. Aug. 9, 1949 2,481,399 Davis Sept. 6, 1949 2,687,241 Maxwell et al Aug. 24, 1954 2,723,785 Moore Nov. 15, 1955 2,729,370 Maxywell et a1. Jan. 3, 1956 2,931,546 Brunier Apr. 5, 1960 2,944,710 =Bader July 12, 1960 2,948,443 Richterkessing et al Aug. 9, 1960 

1. A PANTS PRESSING MACHINE COMPRISING TWO PAIRS OF OPPOSED PRESSING PLATENS IN SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL ARRANGEMENT, EACH SAID PAIR COMPRISING AN INNER SHORTER PLATEN AND AN OUTER LONGER PLATEN, A BUCK UNIT TO HOLD A PAIR OF PANTS WITH THE LEGS THEREOF SEPARATED AND ALIGNED WITH AND ABOVE SAID PAIRS OF PLATENS AND TO HOLD THE RISE PORTION OF SAID PANTS ABOVE AND BETWEEN THE OUTER LONGER PLATENS OF EACH PAIR, SAID UNIT INCLUDING A V-SHAPED BUCK OVER WHICH THE PORTIONS OF THE PANTS RISE THAT COMPRISE THE FLY OF THE PANTS ARE TRAINED, A V-SHAPED PRESSING PLATEN TO ENGAGE THE LATTER PORTIONS TO CLAMP THE RISE PORTION IN OPERATIVE POSITION ON THE BUCK UNIT, A COMMON CARRIAGE 